Multi-purpose fan mounting



Sept. 27,1960 c. A. LINDBERG .r-:TAL l "2,954,198

` MULTI-PURPOSE FAN' MOUNTINGl I Filed July 9, 1958 a/ lNVENroRs CARYL A. L/NDBERG RTI/UE D. E /5 BY TTORNEY .ji Il:

Patented Sept. 27, 196@ 2,954,198 MULTI-PURPOSE FAN MGUYNTING Caryl A. Lindberg and Arthur D. Lewis, St. Louis County,

Mo., assignors to The Emerson Electric Manufacturing Company, St. Louis, M0., a corporation of Missouri Filed July 9, 1958, Ser. No. 747,453

7 Claims. (Cl. 248-122) This invention relates to electric fans, particularly those fans adapted to use as both floor fans and window fans. There are now on the market multi-purpose fans, with a fan unit made up of a guard or casing supporting a motor and enclosing fan blades driven by the motor, the

fan unit being adapted to use interchangeably with various frames or stands, as Hoor fans, and with a win dow fan housing, as a window fan. As a floor fan the fan unit should be so arranged that it can be tilted about a horizontal axis. When used in a window fan housing, it is not necessary that the fan unit be tiltable, but it should be installable and removable easily, and remain securely in place when it is installed.

ln such fans known heretofore, it has been common practice to pivot the fan unit in a frame on shafts extending through the frame, each shaft being threaded at one end and extending either inboard of the frame into a nut welded to the guard, or outboard of the frame into an internally threaded knurled knob. With such an arrangement, not only has it been inconvenient to demount the fan unit, since the fan unitl has to be supported While the threaded shafts or knobs are being unscrewed, but the shafts and knobs are likely to be lost or damaged.

One of the objects of this invention is to provide an arrangement whereby a fan can be installed and removed from various supporting frames or stands, or a window fan housing, quickly and easily, without removing any shafts or knobs or requiring that any loose parts` be shepherded.

Another object is to provide such an arrangement which is inexpensive, and simple to manufacture, assemble and maintain.

Other objects will become apparent toV those skilled in the art in the light of the following description and accompanying drawing.

In accordance with this invention, generally stated, a fan supporting assembly is provided which includes a plate secured to the guard or casing of a fan unit, the plate being constructed in such a Way as to adapt the unit to use, with -a bracket assembly of this invention, on various frames or stands, and, with a spring clip carry? ing a projecting stud, in a window fan housing. The bracket assembly, which includes a bracket having a re-V curved linger, and a fan-unit supporting shaft connected to the finger, on which shaft the fan can be tilted, is constructed to permit the fan unit to be installed and removed from a stand without removing the shaft from the bracket. At the same time, the fan unit is maintained safely against accidental dislodgement in any angular position of the fan unit about the shaft.

The combination of the fan unit guard with its plate, and the spring clip of the window fan housing is such as to permit the mounting and demounting of the fan unit by simple manipulation ofthe spring clip.

Preferably the supporting assembly of thisvinvention is provided at both sides of the stand or window fan housing. However, the plate on the fan unit guard, and the corresponding bracket assembly and spring clip can Y usefully be employed on one side. It is to be understood that the definition of the combination in terms of a single plate and bracket assembly or clip is intended to embrace the use of a pair of these members as well.

In the drawing,

Figure l is a view in front elevation of a fan unit mounted by means of one embodiment of mounting assembly of this invention, in a tall supporting frame;

Figure 2 is a View n side elevation of the fan of Figurev 1;

Figure 3 is a sectional view, taken along the line 3-3 of Figure 2;

Figure 4 is a sectional View taken along the line 4 4' of Figure 3;

Figure 5 is a fragmentary detail view in perspective, partly broken away, showing a plate and mounting bracket of this invention;

Figure 6 is a View in rear elevation of the plate shown in Figure 5; l

Figure 7 is a sectional View, corresponding to the view shown in Figure 3, of a somewhat modified form of bracket assembly of this invention, applied to a low oor stand;

Figure 8 is a view in front elevation of the fan unit shown in Figures l and 2, mounted in a window fan housing; and f l Figure 9 is a sectional view taken along the line 9-9 of Figure 8. Y

Referring to the drawing for an illustrative embodiment of this invention, reference numeral 1 indicates a .self contained fan unit with a motor 2, vfan blades 3 mounted on the shaft of the motor, and a guardS, supporting the motor.

In the illustrative embodiment shown, the guard 5 is constructed with heavy gauge, radially extending J- shaped wire ribs 7, the end of the long leg of each of which is welded to a circular mounting plate 9, and a cage 11 of wire 12, spot welded to the ribs 7. An opening in the front of the cage 11, defined by the last turn of the wire 12 at the end of the short leg of the ribs 7, is sufficiently large to permit the insertion of the motor and fan blades, and is closed by a front guard closure 15. The motor is mounted on the mounting plate 9.

The wire 12 is suiciently springy in the spans between the ribs to permit the cage 11 to be squeezed inwardly a short distance, and to spring back into shape when released. While the wire 12 is shown in the drawing in a discrete concentric circular arrangement, it can be seen that the wire can be arranged spirally, equally as well. Y

At the perimeter of the guard 5, midway between successive ribs 7, and on diametrically opposite sides of the guard, two plates 20 are welded or otherwise secured. In the embodiment shown, the plates are oblong as viewed in front or rear elevation, and curved as viewed in plan, to conform with the curvature of the guard S, asshown in Figure 4. A notch 21 extends through the center of the lower margin 'of the plate 20, and laterally of the plate through about two thirds of the height of the plate.`

between the legs of the tubular member 26, by means of bracket assemblies 30, cooperating with the fan guard plates 20.

'I'he bracket assemblies ,30 of this embodiment are identical and each includes ra bracket 40, a bearing plate 50 and a shaft 60u The shaft 60 is threaded at its inboard end 61, and is provided at its outboard end with la knob 62. The Shaft Gt? extends through `diametrically aligned holes 27 in the legs of the tubular member 26 `of the frame 25.

The bracket .49 has `a relatively Wide plate section 41, with `a relatively narrow, recurved linger 42' integral with and extending upwardly from the lower margin of the plate 41, and defi-ning a channel 43 with ,the plate. In the embodiment shown, holes 44 and 4S,` in the plate 41 and linger 42 respectively, are somewhat oversize with respect to the shaft 60, to permit the shaft to extend through them and turn `freely therein.` A spring clip nut 46, of the character known in the, trade as a Tinnerman clip nut, is mountedv on the tinger 42, withr the thread-engaging par-ts of the clip 46 poistioned coincidentally with the hole 45 in the finger, and'inboard' of the linger. A plate retaining means, in the `form of a shear form lug 47', is provided on the plate 41, andV extends above the upper end of the ringer `42. The lug 47 projects inboard of the face ofthe bracket plate 41 along the channel 43. Abo-ve the lug 47 the plate 41 is bent outboard to facilitate the insertion of the plate 20 into the channel 43.

The distance between the hole 44 in the plate 41 and the lower edge of the lug 417 is slightly greater than the distance between the closed end of the notch 21' in the plate 20 4and the upper margin 'of' the plate 20; This is shown particularly in Figure 3.

The bearing plate t) is cup shaped, with. a flat bottom 51, and an annular flange 52'. The tlange 52 is cut away at diametrically opposite sides, to accommodate the tubular member 26, as shown particularly in Figures 3 and 4. The fiat bottom 51 provides a bearing. surface for a resilient disk 55, positioned on the shaft 60' between the bearing plate S0 and the bracket 40! Washers 65 serve to space the knob 62 from the tubular member, and to provide bearing surfaces to permit the shaft 60 to be turned easily.

The finger 42 is flexible, and, in its relaxed position, is sufficiently far from the bracket` plate 41k to permit the fan guard plate 20 -to be put into and taken out of the channel 43,- past the` lug 47, the slot 2ly in the plate 2li* being wide enough to receive the shaft` 60. The distance betweenthe closed' endI yof the channelv 43V and the lower edge of .the lug47 is `also sucient topermit the `fan guard plate 20 to be inserted inthe channel 43 to `a depth' at' which the upper margin of the plate 20 clears theV lower edge of the lug 47T However, the diameter of the fan guard is at least as great as, and preferably slightly greater than the distance between the bracket plates 41 of the two brackets 40. Accordingly, when the fan guardY plates 20' are inserted in the channels-43,- they bear againstth'e lugs 47and'the guard is squeezed inwardly until' the upper margin of the plate 2l) clears the lug, when the plates 20` `are snapped under the lugs-t7; thanks to the tlexibility of the wires 12 of the fan guard.

When the knob 62 is'turned to screw the clipy nut 46 toward the knob, the finger 42 is pulled toward the plate 41 until the inside leg of the clip 46 tightly engages the plate 20, while, at the same time, the entire bracket 4t) is pulled tight against the bearing plate 50;

As indicated in Figure 2, the fan uni-t 1 can -be held in any desired angular position, simply :by lirst loosening the bracket yassembly and. tilting the fan unit as desired, and then tightening the bracket assembly While the fan unit is in the desired position. Even if the fan unit wereturned upside down, with the open end of the channel 43 down, the fan unit cannot slip from the bracket 40, because `it is held in place, even when the bracket `assembly is loosened by the lug 47.

In `dernounting .the :fan unit, it is only necessary to loosen'the bracket assembly sufficiently `to permit `the linger 42: to return to its relaxed position,l and then manually to ydeflect the guard inwardly until the plate 20 clears the lower edge of the lug 47, when the fan uni-t can be lifted out of the channel 43.

The relative narrowness of the nger 42 serves a double purpose. First, it better accommodates .the curvature of the plate Ztl, permitting the plate easily to be displaced inwardly, and second, it tends .to make the finger 42 `flexible so that it` can easily be moved toward the bracket `t1 by the shaft 60'. The .relatively wide bracket plate 41 provides a large bearing surface against one side of the disk 55, permitting the fan unit to be maintained in a tilted position more easily than if a small bearing surf-ace were provided.

In Figure 7, `a bracket assembly of this 4invention is shown in use on one `arm of a, stand of the character commonly used 'for low loor stands. In such -a stand, two tubular arms extend upwardly. The arms are flattended at their upper ends, and aligned holes are provided in the flattened ends. In Figure 7 onlyrone of the tubularl arms 76 is shown, with .a flattened section 77; in Ithis arrangement, it is not necessary to providea 4bearing plate 59, sincev the ila-t side of they end section 77 provides sutlicient bearing surface for the disk 55. In all other respects, the bracket assembly used with the low floor stand is identical with that used in the high frame 25, and the-various'parts are designated with the same reference-numenals.- The mounting and demounting of the fan from the low floor stand are also accomplished in the same way as has beenwdescribed in connectionwith the stand sho-wn in Figuresl land 2.

In Figures 8, and 9, the fan unit-1l is shown mounted in a window fan housing Si). |Ihe window fan housing t) is constructed to form an annular conical seat having the usual rubber bumpers, which are not shown since they are nota .part of the invention. rihese bumpers are spaced apart :around the seat, .and the fan unit rests on the bumpers. The fan unit is held in place by two spr-ing clips 81, each carrying a pin or studl 82 which extends into the lnotch, 21 in the plate 20. of the fan guard. The fan unit is :restrained against movement .in any direction except axially outwardly :by the housing S43 in which it is seated, and is restrained against axial outward movement by the pins 82 of the spring clips 31. In order to mount the fan unit in the window housing, it is only necessary to move one or both of the spring clips 81 outwardly awayf-rom the fan guard far enough to permit the pin 82m clear the plate 2t), set the unit in the seat of the window fan housing, land permit the clip 81 to spring back into position,.with the pin 2 in the notch 21 of the plate 20.

Numerous variations within the scope of the appended claims will occur to those skilled in the art in the light of the foregoing disclosure. For example, the hole 45 in the iinger 42 of the bracket may be internally threaded and made ofl a size to engage the threaded end of the shaft 60, or a nut may be welded onto the iinger 42. The shaftv 60 may be headed on its inboard end and threaded on the outboard end to receive a manipulatable nut, in the form of a Wing nut or internally threaded knurled knob. In any. event, in the preferred embodi ment described in which a clip nut was` used or in the illustrative variants suggested, the shaft is connected to the linger. The plate-retaining means on the bracket plate may take other forms than a shear form` lug. The plate. 2@ may be madev in different shapes and sizes, so long as it is proportioned and constructed to cooperate with the bracketassembly of the stands and spring clip of the window fan housing. The fan unit guard may take any desired form, so long as provision is made for the plate 20, and for its inward deflection and outward spring. The form or style of frame, stand, o-rwvindow fan housing is, of course, totally immaterial, so long as their construction and dimensions admit of the use of the bracketassembly and fan guard plate in the manner which has been'described.

Thus, it can .be'seen that a versatile, simple, rugged and effective multi-purpose fan has been provided, in which a fan unit may be shifted back and forth from stand to stand or from stand to window fan housing without employing or engendering any loose parts.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is:

1. In a support structure for a fan guard and the like, the improvement comprising a fan guard plate secured to said guard, said fan guard plate having a notch opening through one margin and terminating short of the opposite margin of the said fan guard plate, and a bracket assembly comprising a bracket having a bracket plate and a recurved finger delining a channel with said bracket plate, said channel being closed at one end and open at its other end, said bracket plate also having fan guard plateretaining means adjacent the open end of the channel, and a yfan supporting shaft, said bracket plate having a hole through which said shaft extends, said shaft being connected with said finger, the said fan guard plate being positioned within the bracket channel, said shaft extending through the notch of the fan guard plate, and said fan guard plate-retaining means embracing the said opposite margin of the fan guard plate.

2. In a support structure for a fan guard and the like, said guard being inwardly deectable in at least one dimension, the improvement comprising a fan guard plate secured to said guard for movement with inward deection of said guard, said fan guard plate having a notch opening through a lower margin of said fan guard plate and terminating short of an uppermargin of the said fan guard plate, and a bracket assembly comprising a bracket having a bracket plate and a recurved finger defining a channel with said bracket plate, said channel being closed at its lower end and open at its upper end, said bracket plate having a fan-guard plate retaining lug projecting from said bracket plate and located adjacent the upper, open end of the channel, and a fan supporting shaft, said bracket plate having a hole through 'which said shaft extends, and said shaft being connected with said nger, the said fan guard plate being positioned within the bracket channel, said shaft extending through the notch in said fan guard plate and said fan guard plate-retaining lug projecting over the upper margin of the fan guard plate.

3. The combination of claim 1, wherein the shaft is threaded at its inner end, and the threaded end is threadedly engaged at the nger of the bracket plate.

4. The combination of claim 1 with a oor stand having tubular vertical members, at least one of said members having a hole through it to take the shaft of the bracket assembly, and a bearing plate with a flange arcuately cut out to receive the said perforated tubular member, said bearing plate being interposed bet-Ween the said tubular member and the bracket plate.

5. The combination of claim 4 wherein a disk of resilient material is interposed between the said bracket plate and the bearing plate.

6. In a fan unit including a fan guard mounted within a fan stand having a pair of spaced supporting members, the improvement in fan guard support structure comprising a bracket plate and a recurved nger extending along said bracket plate and defining a channel therewith, open at one end, and plate-retaining means on said bracket plate adjacent the open end of said channel and projecting inboard ofthe face of the bracket plate, said bracket plate being positioned inboard of said spaced supporting members, and a guard capable of being deected inwardly in one direction, and a plate on said guard positioned to move inwardly with the guard upon deflection of the guard, said plate being receivable by the bracket channel and having a margin engageable by the plate retaining means, the span of the guard and of the said spaced supporting members being so related that the guard must be deected inwardly to permit the guard plate to clear the plate-retaining means on the said bracket plate.

7. A fan unit comprising a guard operatively supportable in and transferable between mounting means having a bracket assembly including a bracket plate with a recurved iinger and a guard supporting shaft connected to the finger, and mounting means having a spring clip with an inwardly projecting stud, said guard comprising a wire cage, successive loops of wire making up said cage being supportedA at spaced intervals circumferentially, the wire being suiciently springy in a span between two supports to Ipermit the cage to be deected inwardly manually but to spring back, and a plate secured to said wire cage in the span intermediate two supports, for movement with inward deection and outward restoration of said cage, said plate having a notch of a size to receive the guard supporting shaft of the rst of said mounting means and the stud of the spring clip of the second of said mounting means, said notch opening through one margin of said plate, and terminating short of an opposite margin of said plate.

, References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 882,231 Brown Mar. 17, 1908 1,137,773 Marsden May 4, 1915 1,504,478 Hyser Aug. 12, 1924 1,814,342 Smith July 14, 1931 2,345,516 Weber Mar. 28, 1944 2,463,337 Weber i Mar. 1, 1949 2,795,388 Myers June 11, 1957 2,830,779 Wentling Apr. 15, 1958 2,857,095 Grau Oct. 21, 1958 2,862,657 Copeland et al Dec. 2, 1958 

